Wall structure



H. P. C. KEULS WALL STRUCTURE Sept. 27, 1932.

Filed July 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l [N VENTOR Sept. 27, 1932. H, P, c. KEULs WALL STRUCTURE Filed July 25. 1931 `2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [NVE/WOR B Y ms. 071mm ZTORNE YS Patented Sept. 27, i932 y #UNITED STATES PATENT iol-Fics H ENRY P. C. KEUIS, 0F NEW YORK, N Y., .ASSIGNOR T0 SEALED dOINT CONSTUCTION CORPORATION, A CORPORATION' 0F NEW YORK WALL STRUCTURE This invention relates to wall constructions as made up of building blocks, such as bricks,

tiles, stone or composition wall units, and the like, which are4 laid with mortar or other suitable binder material between them, :forming joints, and the invention is an improvement on a prior invention made by me directed to the employment of sealing strips in the joints between the blocks to prevent the passage, enetration or seepage'ot water or moisture through the joints.

In saidprior invention, forming the sub ject of an application for Letters Patent filed by me February 24th, 1931, Serial No. 517,- 803, building blocks, specifically in the orin of bricks, are formed withgrooves commu nicating with the joints between the bricks and sealing strips are seated in the grooves and embedded in the mortar of the joints filling the rooves, thereby forming in the joints, barriers or seals against the passage of water therethrough.

The improved characteristic of the present invention resides in the cross sectional form ot the grooves to receive the sealing strips; and also in the specific form of such strips, with the obj ect of obtaining a better and more edective sealing action, and with the further object of centering the building blocks relative to each other in the building of the wall; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved orm, construction and relation of parts which will be described in detail in the specication to follow, and the novel features of which will be set forth in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a front elevation of a portion of a i wall structure having my (invention embodied therein, parts being broken away to better show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional plan view o the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the blocks;

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the same; Fig. 6 is a perspective view oie oneof the centering and sealing strips; and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the blocks andfone of the sealing strips positioned in the grooves thereof, showing how the strips are. assembled in the laying of the blocks to center the latter. e

Referring to the drawings:

The wall as shown in Fig. 1 is made up of` courses 1 of building blocks 2 (here shown as bricks), which courses are laid as usual' one over the other with horizontal joints 3 between thefcourses, and with'vertical joints 4 between the blocks of a course and breaking joint as usual with the vertical joints of the adjacent courses.

In order to seal the vertical and horizontal sage of water and moisture, etc., each block is formed, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with horizontal grooves 5 in the sides of the blocks and similar vertical grooves in the ends of the blocks, which vside and end grooves are 'preferably joined to each other to form a continuous groove entirely around the block, the said grooves of adjacent blocks being preferably alined with each other as sho.. These grooves are adapted to receive strips 7 of a material impervious to moisture, preferably some suitable metal, which strips in cooperationwith the mortar or other binder filling the spaces between the blocks and lillingy the grooves, act as edective seals andl prevent the passage or seepage of water or moisture through the j oints.

In accordance with the present invention, theI grooves in the blocks are formed with side walls 5si which converge toward each .strip and filling the groove, a very eective barrier or seal against the passage of water or moisture around the edges of the strip; and further, it acts to maintain the strip centrally as shown in Fig. 7

in theigroove and in an upright position course of bricks is laid in a manner similar therein, this latter function being performed to the first course, each block of the course i by the employment of a sealing strip of angubeing placed upon the blocks of the first course y,

lar form as shown in Fig. 6, having a horiand being centered thereon by seating ,the zontal arm 7 terseat the horizontal groovev grooves in the undersides of the blocks around in the block, 4and a connected vertical arm the horizontal projecting edges of the first 7" to seat in the vertical groove in the block sealing strips, and as the blocks of the second i 'course are tamped down, the mortar will be By reason of the maintenance of the strip pressed up into the grooves inthe undersides in an upright position in the block in this of the saine and will embed the sealing strips manner, the blocks will be accurately ceri-` projecting therein.

tered, both in respect to the individualblocks The length of the end arms i7 of the sealof acour'se, and in respect to the courses theming strips will preferably be such that when joint, and insure a uniform its left hand end overlapping the right hand selves, since a sealing strip applied to the seated in placeas shown in Fig. 7, the lower brick as shown in Fig. 7 will present a centeri ends of these arms will project some distance ing edge 7 at the side to seat in the end groove below the lower side of the block so as to of the next block of a course, and will present extend in the horizontal grooves in the upper a centering edge 7 d at the top to enter the side of the next block beneath, thereby progroove Lin the underside of the block of the ducing a very compact and eiectual intercourse above. In this way the blocks of a locking of the vertical arms of the strips with course, and the several courses of blocks, may the blocks of the adjacent courses, in addition be accurately centered in the building of a to the interlocking effected by the extension wally without the necessity of employing ofthe upper and lower edges of the horizonplumbnline's, squares, or other testing instrutal arms of the strips in the grooves of the ments as is now generally practiced. blocks of the adjacent courses. ,A

The width of the strips are such in rela- The extension of the ends of the vertical tion to the depth o the grooves in the bricks, arms of the angular sealing strips into the that withl the edges of the strips seated in adjacenthorizontal joints between the blocks, the bottoms ofthe grooves, the blocks` will effects an interlocking of the courses of the be maintained spaced from each other to reblocks with each other, and atying of said ceive the mortar or-)biiiding material orincourses together, thereby reinforcing the wall ing thejoints. For instance, to lay the bricks structure as a whole, and enabling a wall of witha 3/8 joint between them, the depth the vthickness of a single block or brick, to of the grooves in the bricks will be 2/8, and withstand stresses, which without such reina 7 /8 strip will be employed. In this way forcement, would require a wall of the thickthestrips in connection with the grooves, preness of several blocks. Such reinforcement f determine and control the thickness' of the 0f the Wall, ObtainedA by the use of the angujoint between the lai' st rips, is not dependent upon the seating bricks throughout the wall. V 0f said strips in grooves in the blocks, but 1n the building 0f a, wall employing buildwill result from the mereembedding of the ing blocks or bricks and centering and sealstripsin the mortar or binding material con-I ing strips of the form above described, after Stltlltmg the Jplnts between the bricks. placing in position the first block with mortar 1D Cllylllg 011191115 IIIVGIltIOD, I prefer t0 on its end, one of the sealing` strips is set in i employ gI'OOVeS ill theblOCkS 0f V-Shp in place with the horizontal arm thereof seated cross section to maintain the strips centrally in the horizontal groove in the upper side 111 pprlght POSltlOll in the performance 01E of the block, and with theVv vertical arm seated the centering l1!1 `'10I1S, bl1i7 1tA Wlll be '1111- inthe vertical groove in the end ofthe block delSOOd Lha' the IDVPDIOII 1S I IO' llmltjd and embedded in the mortar thereon. The t0 g1 00V-eS 0f thlS SPQclfiC forma S1110@ the .111- second block of the course is now (after hav- YelltlOIl Includes Wdh-111 ltS SCOPE, Other metllS ing mortar spread on its adjacent end) placed 111 respect t0 th? Tela-151V@ f0.1`111 lf'the St1`-1PS againstthe first block and its endA groove {md gl` 00VeS Wlllh Wlll mamtll thew StllpS seated over the centering edge 7 of the verti- 111 upl'lgh 11051131011 t0 enable them t0 e C cal arm of the strip, and after this block is the cltelmg 0f the blocks 3S the bulldlllg properly tamped in position, a second seal- 0f theWu-Pl'ogldssesz r ing strip is set in the grooves thereof, with Wh11e1n the folegomidescrlptlon and 0- companying drawings I ave set forth my 1nend of the first strip; and these Operations vention 1n the particular detailed lform and are repeated until the first course of bricks is COUSTQCOP 0f the Parts Whlch I Prefer t0 laid, which course will present onA its upper adopt, 1t W11 1 be understood that tht-SQ detalls side open grooves vwith the horizontal arms may 75111011515 Chalged a-lld IllOdlfled by 'of the sealing strips seated therein and prothe skilled mechanic without' departing from jecting upwardly therefrom.

The mason now covers the laid course of will be understoodthat the invention is not blocks with a layer of mortar, andthe second limited to any particular form or constructhe limits of the invention; and further, it,y

tion of the parts, except in so far as such limitations are specified in-the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a wall construction, the combination of courses of'building blocks disposed' one course above the other, and each block formed with grooves alined with the grooves ofendjacent blocks, block centering and seallng strips extending in the grooves of the blocks of a lower course and extending upwardly into the grooves of the blocks of the next course above, said strips being maintained, in upright position by the lower blocks independently of the blocks above; whereby in the building of theliwall the blocks are centered relative to each other.

2. In a wall construction, the combination of courses of building blocks disposed one course over the other and each block formed with vertical and horizontal connected grooves V-shape in cross section, with the grooves of adjacent blocks alined with each other, block centering and sealing strips disposed in the alined grooves and `comprismg each a horizontal arm seated in the alined horizontal grooves of the blocks of adjacent courses, and a lvertical arm connected withv the horizontal arm and seated in the vertical alined grooves of adjacent blocksof a course; whereby the arms of said strips are malntained centrally of the grooves in upright position and the blocks thereby centered relative to each other.

3. In a wall construction, the combination of courses .of building blocks disposed one course over the other and each block provided `in its sides and ends with connected grooves V-shape in cross section, with the vgrooves of adjacent blocks alined with each other both at the sides and ends ofv the same, angular block centering and sealing strips disposed in the alined grooves and comprising each a horizontal arm seated in the alined horizontal grooves of the blocks of adjacent courses, and a connected vertical arm seated in the alined vertical grooves of the adjacent blocks of a course; whereby the arms of the strips are maintained centrally of the grooves in upright position, and the blocks of one course centered relative to those of another course.

4. In a wall construction, the combination of courses of building blocks disposed one course above the other, said blocks being each formed in adjacent vertical faces with vertical grooves V-shape in cross sect-ion, and being formed in adjacent horizontal faces with horizontal grooves-V-shape in cross section, binder material between said blocks constituting 'verticaljoints between the individual blocks ofacourse and horizontal joints between the courses of blocks, vertical sealing strips embedded in the binder material of the vertical joints. and' extending into the vertical grooves in adjacent blocks to seal the vertical joints, and horizontal sealing strips embedded in the binder material of a continuous groove V-shape in cross section extending entirely around it, with the grooves of adjacent blocks alined with each other at the sides and ends of the blocks, angular block centering and sealing'strips in the alined grooves, each strip comprising'a horizontal arm seated in the alined horizontal grooves of the blocks of adjacent courses, and

a connected vertical arm seated in the alined vertical grooves of adjacent blocks ofV a course; whereby the strips serve to center,

the blocks relative to each other, and a binder material between the blocks, extending into the alined grooves and embedding said strips.

6. In a wall construction, the combination of courses'of building blocks arranged one over the other and each block formed with connected Vertical and horizontal grooves,`

with the grooves of adjacent blocks alined with each other, sealing strips disposed in the alined grooves and comprising each a horizontal arm seated in the alined horizontal grooves ofthe blocks of adjacent courses, and a vertical arm connected with the horizontal arm and seated in thealined vertical grooves of the adjacent blocks of a course, the lower ends of said vertical arms extending respectively into the horizontal grooves of the next blocks beneath.

7. The combination of elements set forth` in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the free end of the horizontal arm of each strip overlaps the opposite end of the horizontal arm of the adjacent strip.

8. A block centering and sealing strip for wall vconstructions made up of courses of building blocks having horizontal and vertical grooves alined in respect 'to the adjacent blocks, said strip comprising afhoriz'ontal arm adapted to seat in the horizontal alined grooves of the blocks of adjacent courses, and a vertical arm connected with the horizontal arm and adapted to seat in the vertical alined grooves of the adjacent blocks of a course.

9. `In a wall construction, the combination of courses of building blocks disposed one course over the other, and a binder material between the blocks forming horizontal oints between the courses and vertical joints between the individual blocks of a course, reinforcing strips disposed in said joints and comprising each a horizontal arm extending in the horizontal joint between adjacent courses of bricks and embedded in the binder material thereof, and a vertical arm connected with the horizontal arm and extending in the vertical joint between adjacent blocks andA los v embedded in the binder material thereof, the end's of the vertical arms of the several strips extending into the horizontal joints between the courses of blocks.

5 10. The combination of an improved building block for' wall constructions and a block centering and sealing strip comprising a horizontal arm and a vertical arm, the block being formed in its sides and ends with longituds 1f'fnally extending connected grooves, the

grooves in the sides and ends of the block being respectively adapted to receive the horilzontal-arm and the vertical arm of said strip andfbeing of 4a cross sectional form which,

15 while Ypermitting of the entrance 'of mortar therein, will conjointly, in cooperation with the two arms of the strip, prevent tipping a or lateral displacement of the same, and

thereby hold thestrip in upright centering .2 position.

11. The improved building block for wall structures, said block being formed with a` groove of general V shape in cross section ex# tending continuously therearound, in combination with a block centering and sealing strip comprising a horizontal arm seated in V the horizontal portion of the groove, and a vertical arm seated inthe vertical portion of the groove; whereby the sharp angles at mathe bottoms of the horizontal 'p and vertical portions of the groove conjointly will hold. the strip against lateral displacement or tipping, and will maintain the same in upright ,centering position. l i In testimony whereof, this speciiication has been duly signed by:

` HENRY P. C. KEULS. 

